While their peers might be having kids and rushing off to the burbs, Chicago couple Josh and Ali are determined to raise their daughter in the city. With a million to spend, they're looking in the desirable Lincoln Park area, as close to the lake as possible. Problem is, he wants a cozy single family home, and she insists on a swanky high-rise with all the amenities that go with it. Who will win out?

Eric and Laura have recently moved to Gilbert, Arizona, for Eric's job, and are looking for a home with room to grow for their family of three. Eric wants a fixer-upper, but Laura wants something move-in ready. Laura's also longing for the colorful Florida landscape they left behind, and is hoping that with their $300,000-plus budget they'll find a home with a taste of the tropics in the desert.

Ohio transplants, Brian and Andrea, are in love with Philadelphia and are ready to buy their first home in the area. She wants a historic charmer, and he wants something new and low maintenance. But whatever age home they go with, they're going to have to overcome some extreme sticker shock coming from the much lower-priced Youngstown, Ohio, housing market.

Tim is all about getting a house with great architectural details, and has decided his next home in Brattleboro, Vermont, needs to be at least 100 years old. He's looking for a Dutch Colonial Revival, Brick Colonial or classic farmhouse. While he's not afraid to take on projects, he knows he can get sidetracked. With his friends along to keep him in check, he's hoping to find a place that has the character he wants without blowing his $250,000 budget.

Josh and Kate are moving their three young boys from South Carolina to Clermont, Florida to be closer to Josh's family. He wants a house with plenty of play space for the boys. She wants a place with some historic charm and lake views. But on their budget, finding a home that has it all is going to require some serious compromises, like living next to bats.

Ryan and Angela are on the hunt for their first home together in downtown Chicago. A history buff, Angela wants one of the city's historic converted lofts. Ryan, on the other hand, would prefer a bigger, newer townhome. Who will win out?

LaKechia, a single mom from the Atlanta suburb of Fayetteville, has been living with her mother to save money for a home. But this will be no starter home for her and her 4-year-old son. She's looking for a dream home. With a long wish list of items, she'll have her hands full trying to make dreams come true on a $230,000 budget.

Michael and Lauren just moved to Bentonville, Arkansas, where they're loving the small town vibe. But they're having a tough time finding a home that fits Michael's hip style demands, while still incorporating Lauren's more classic tastes. Making their house hunt even more complicated, they need to have a yard big enough to hold their enormous Great Dane. Will a $250,000 budget go far enough to fit the needs of all three?

New Orleans newlyweds, Zach and Christie, are ready to stop sharing walls in their cozy Garden District apartment complex and buy a home of their own. They have their sights set on old Victorian or shotgun style home in either the Uptown area or the Garden District. As transplants from Los Angeles, they're excited by how much further their budget will go in New Orleans, but this Big Easy search might end up being a lot harder than they expect.

Danny and Ashley are self-confessed neat freaks buying their first home in downtown Chicago. They have some quirky deal breakers, including no bidet toilets. Ashley wants a sleek industrial loft in a luxe high rise, but Danny wants a traditional, warmer feeling condo. Working in a competetive market with a tight budget, can they find a germ-free home that they agree on?

After college, medical school, and residency Jay is back in his native Los Angeles and ready to buy his first home. He's leaning toward a historic home with a big yard in the San Fernando Valley. But his long time friend Virginia, a young professional like Jay, is pushing him to buy a low maintenance bachelor pad that's close to nightlife. Will it be hip, or historical for this L.A. doctor?

Moving around a lot is nothing new to Marine pilot, Cody, and his wife, Stephanie. But now that he has a 3 year tour in Beaufort, South Carolina, they feel the time is right to buy their first home here. They set their budget at $300,000 max, but Stephanie is looking for a plantation style home, similar to what they grew up with in New Orleans, which run closer to $500,000. And while he wants a move-in ready house, she's excited to renovate. Can they find a compromise? Find out as House Hunters goes to Beaufort, South Carolina.

Dallas residents, Stephen and mom-to-be Megan, are rushing to find a home where she can feather their nest before their first baby arrives in just a few weeks. He wants a vintage craftsman-style home with tons of historic charm, while she'd prefer a brand-new condo in one of the city's gleaming high-rises. Will their $250,000 budget be enough to buy a place with the classic looks Stephen loves, and the modern touches Megan won't live without?